I recently attended the Quills Conference at the Salt Lake City Marriott on the University of Utah campus. Quills is a writing conference rooted in community and designed for writers of all skill levels who want to grow creatively and professionally.
As an artist, author, and marketing professional, events like Quills sit at the intersection of everything I care about: storytelling, strategy, and visual communication. This year’s conference offered several moments that stayed with me long after the sessions ended.
Writing Doesn’t Exist in Isolation
One of my biggest takeaways from Quills is a reminder that I never get tired of hearing: craft comes first.
From a marketing perspective, this matters. No amount of promotion or design can compensate for a story that doesn’t connect. When the craft is strong, marketing becomes an extension of the story rather than a separate, uncomfortable task.
As an artist, I think about this constantly when creating artwork for books. A strong cover doesn’t just look good, it visually translates the heart of the story. That same alignment between intention and execution showed up again and again in conference conversations.
Designing covers for anthologies like Collective Humanity helps reinforce the idea that cover art is often a reader’s first chapter. It sets tone, genre expectations, and emotional context before a single word is read.
Story-Driven Marketing Matters
Readers respond to stories, not sales pitches. Knowing this informs my involvement with the League of Utah Writers Romance Chapter, where I help with Meet Cute Marketing, a concept I created that borrows first impressions, emotional hooks, and authenticity from romance storytelling and applies it directly to author branding.
At Quills, similar themes emerged:
- Consistency matters more than volume
- Readers value connection over perfection
- Marketing should feel like an invitation, not an interruption
For writers who feel resistant to promotion, these conversations were reassuring. Marketing erase your artistic voice, it amplifies it.
The Value of a Local Writing Community
Another standout aspect of the Quills Conference is its emphasis on local expertise. Many presenters are Utah-based writers, editors, and publishing professionals who understand the regional creative ecosystem.
As someone deeply involved in local organizations, I value how this grounded perspective keeps advice realistic and actionable. It also fosters collaboration rather than competition.
The vendor hall itself felt less like a marketplace and more like a cross-section of Utah’s literary community: organizations, services, and creatives all invested in helping writers grow sustainably.
What I Took Home From Quills
By the end of the day, I walked away with:
- A renewed focus on craft as the core of all creative work
- Fresh ideas for aligning marketing with narrative and emotion
- Inspiration to continue blending writing, design, and strategy into a cohesive artistic practice
- Gratitude for a community that supports writers without gatekeeping
Conferences like Quills don’t just teach skills, they reaffirm why we make things in the first place.
Final Thoughts
The Quills Conference was both energizing and grounding. As a creative professional who works across writing, marketing, and visual art, I love participating in events that honor the full spectrum of what it means to be a working artist today.
If you’re looking for a writers conference in Salt Lake City that values craft, community, and practical professional growth, Quills is absolutely worth attending!
Hope to see you next year.
xoxo,
Michaela Rae
